Home Security

[The Reaper]

I agree, it is very pricey and has some secondary effects that people may not want.

The only places I have ever seen it used is on windows of US Government buildings. I have never seen a residential application, but I suppose if you had the money, it could be done.

Personally, I wonder if a specific type of window tint or an automotive clear bra material would work to some lesser degree.

TR

[mark46th]

"Kind of a wierd back up plan - where do you keep him and what do you feed him?" Pedoncdoc

He tends to keep to himself and is partial to Jack Tacos and pastrami sandwiches from 'The Hat'. Pure health food.

[BOfH]

Originally Posted by FlagDayNCO

Entire post

Thanks for the informative response. I am primarily looking at the cheaper commercial/residential films, like this. The purpose would be to buy time on what I see are the paths of least resistance: the windows in my front door(the door itself is another story) and my sliding doors.

[plato]

If not the window itself, a screen/storm window is an easy place for additional security.

"Back on the farm", I had the external screw-on storm windows in heavy frames. To assist in preventing the entry of flying objects, ( and roaming shitheads) I included hardware cloth on the inside surface. Screws that require an uncommon screwdriver tip are available and cheap.

Modern, thin-framed screen windows can generally be removed with a pry-bar or screwdriver from outside. However if pinned from the inside along both left and right, and incorporating some good-looking black vinyl-coated hardware cloth as well as the black screen, they are a serious impediment unless someone comes equipped with bolt cutters.

And HH6 likes the fact that they look "distinctive".

[Golf1echo]

Could not find this info in a search so I have two questions that relate to this thread. I am trying to secure 4 remote cabins with cameras and alarms. Only one has power and none currently have phone lines. I purchased a trail cam and so far am impressed with it... Mostly. It puts out a red beam indicating its zone of coverage, this is no good as I am interested primarily in human activity and that gives camera location away at night and in low light conditions, any available that don't do that? Also curious about other ways to monitor and control any devices. Looking for near and long term solutions?

[dollarbill]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

How do you plan to secure and defend your home?

If you follow the adage of "deter, detect, delay, and defeat," how would you accomplish this?

Deter - House sits well back from the road on a hill, gravel drive, not much in the front yard, no obvious signs of wealth. Video surveillance camera by driveway entrance and video warning sign. Bright exterior floodlighting on just two switches covers most of the property, and all entrances/exits. Automatic dusk till dawn exterior lighting of entrances. Plan to add remote IR lighting for cameras and night vision. Selected interior lights left on at night and others are on timers. TV or radio on during day and most of the night. Thorny plants under windows. No ladders stored outside. Windows above basement level too tall to climb. All exterior doors locked but one, that one locked when I am not home. Chain and cable secure gate periodically. Garage is closed and doors locked automatically if we are not in it working. Front entrance requires a climb of more than 20 steps. Alarm monitoring signs by all entrances. Garage and main entrance are on back of house out of view from the street. Shrubbery kept trimmed below level of windows.

Detect - Driveway and blind spots covered by annunciators. Video surveillance wired into home TVs. Major views cover likely avenues of approach. Alarm system on all exterior doors and windows, set to chime when door or window opened. Gravel drive noisy to climb. Driveway passes by bedroom windows. Dog barks when outside noises heard.

Delay - Slow driving on gravel drive and two significant drainages create natural speed bumps, both easily covered from above from most of the front of the house, including Master BR. House is well off the road. Doors and windows locked. Windows are casement. Exterior doors are steel or fiberglass with 3" screws in hinges and bolt hardware. Frames are reinforced. Plan to add pockets for 2x6 door bars on steel doors. Deadbolt throws are boxed. Doors with glass have double cylinder deadbolts. Front door requires significant climb, enters into sunroom with locked and deadbolted interior doors into house. Main entrance is up several steps and could represent an excellent trap. Need portcullis though. Interior doors are 8-0 solid core and critical ones are secured with keyed locks. Frames are reinforced with double or triple studs. Multiple interior routes of defense, delay, and withdrawal or attack. Access to any bedroom requires breaching at least two or more locked doors. Valuables are secured in safes and secure areas. Garage doors lock automatically with deadbolts. No burglary tools left outside. Family briefed and drilled on emergency plan. Fire extinguishers and emergency flashlights in likely areas. Vehicles are locked, and no handheld remotes are left in cars.

Defend - Owner and family members well-armed and trained with a variety of weapons, including firearms. Good 360 degree fields of fire. Brick exterior. Need mouseholes, but the wife won't let me install them. Yet. Would like larger, more aggressive dog. Hardened interior structures for cover. I'll just leave it at that and save a few surprises.

Thoughts?

TR

Not sure if the house has two or more floors. If so would consider some type of rope ladder, just in case you needed to get out from upstairs. The only other thing I can think of is a Joya Dr Nicaragua, and enjoy what you've accomplished.

[Oldrotorhead]

Originally Posted by Golf1echo

Could not find this info in a search so I have two questions that relate to this thread. I am trying to secure 4 remote cabins with cameras and alarms. Only one has power and none currently have phone lines. I purchased a trail cam and so far am impressed with it... Mostly. It puts out a red beam indicating its zone of coverage, this is no good as I am interested primarily in human activity and that gives camera location away at night and in low light conditions, any available that don't do that? Also curious about other ways to monitor and control any devices. Looking for near and long term solutions?

4 cameras took about one minute.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articl...-spooking-game

[Golf1echo]

Originally Posted by Oldrotorhead

4 cameras took about one minute.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articl...-spooking-game

Thank you sir, it was if you said " Inbound", if you only knew the half of it. Open invite any time. I see there are many options out there, the title of the article has given me an idea. I think I will use the camera I purchased for bait. W/others in over watch for starters. The nice thing about X-Traing is it teaches you to dig deep and broad...thank you.

[Jim72]

Thanks all for the pro tips. The one thing I have found that helps is having a dog that is trained to only bark when someone enters the property. That way I always know that when I hear her bark there's someone inbound. Too many dogs just bark and carry on just because someone is walking down the street. Another thing I do is to train my dog to only eat what I put in front of her, high probability of not being baited that way.

[badshot]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

That is what a driveway annunciator is.

Are these IR visible? If not which brand?

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by badshot

Are these IR visible? If not which brand?

Passive Infra-Red.

TR

[badshot]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Passive Infra-Red.

TR

Thank you Sir

[Toaster]

This may or not be needed to be another thread, if so please move.

For those who have family members who are at home when they arrive (or at home when family arrives).

If you (or spouse/child) were arriving home and they were under duress from goblin (rapist/robber/criminal scum) is there some indicator or plan in place so that they could have an armed response?

Sample scenario: I am walking to my apartment from vehicle and due to lack of situational awareness and/or being unarmed coming from post are taken hostage by scum, then forced to my apartment door where I have to signal to my wife to respond quickly with arms to repel invaders.


Possible plan call a different woman's name loudly when I get home...That's about as far as I have gotten...or go to someone else's door, though not exactly an ideal or ethical solution either.


I generally just consider this a shit sandwich anyway that you slice it, and that you should take steps to prevent this from happening.

The likelihood of this scenario is low, but the consequences would be catastrophic...I'm interested in others thoughts on the subject.

[Max_Tab]

Sounds strange, but get geese to keep in your fenced in yard. They will squak and make a racket anytime some comes into there area. (Mtn Goat: remember them in our first house in Kosovo?)

I always wanted to do this at our house in NC: In the back of the house along the back fence put in a roll of triple strand concertina. Then plant black berry bushes right in the middle of them. It will take a couple of years for the black berry bushes to fill out, but when they do the wire will be completely hidden and it will just look like a big row of bushes plus you get delicious berries every year.

Plus the thought of a burglar getting surprised and trying to run through them makes me laugh.

[mugwump]

Originally Posted by Max_Tab

I always wanted to do this at our house in NC: In the back of the house along the back fence put in a roll of triple strand concertina. Then plant black berry bushes right in the middle of them. It will take a couple of years for the black berry bushes to fill out, but when they do the wire will be completely hidden and it will just look like a big row of bushes plus you get delicious berries every year.

Plus the thought of a burglar getting surprised and trying to run through them makes me laugh.

I've done exactly this ^^^ around a small apple orchard that offers concealment too close to my home. I think your estimate of two years for the blackberry bushes filling out is spot on, mine will be that old next spring. I staked down the concertina using rebar U's and hog clipped a strand of barbed wire across the top--used widely spaced t-posts but they probably weren't needed, the blackberry canes grew fast and lent support. Be prepared for a lot of suckers popping up as far as six feet from your hedgerow. Pretty invasive but mowing controls them.